The State of Study Abroad in Russia, 2017

Josh is SRAS’s Assistant Director, and is editor of SRAS’s newsletter and the Editor in Chief of Vestnik, The Journal of Russian and Asian Studies.

As I sit to write my fourth annual State of Study Abroad in Russia, it feels again like the Russia in which I sit is a completely different place from the Russia in which I sat last year.

Last year at this time, Russia was in the midst of a financial crisis and jolting through economic changes I then described as “tectonic shifts.” Despite this, Russians never really panicked and, in large part thanks to that, Russia’s economy fairly quickly settled into a “new normal.” Last year, I also wrote about the differences between viewing the Russian crisis from without and from within, with the world looking inside as if Russia was a train, speeding into potential chaos. Meanwhile, the Russians, onboard the train and moving with it, saw manageable challenges. This year, the view of Russia from the inside seems quite stable. The rest of the world, however, seems braced for what many fear or hope will be massive changes ahead.

Living Inside Russia’s Economic and Political Environment

Inside Russia, most of the volatility and turbulence that kicked off 2016 has subsided. The supply lines that were disrupted by Russia’s agricultural sanctions and rapidly changing exchange rates fairly quickly adapted to the new conditions, with more products coming from the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Prices have stabilized and inflation is now at a post-Soviet low. Russia is widely expected to return to very modest growth – both in terms of GDP and wages – in 2017.

Polls have shown that, after a year of volatility, stagnation, and now only modest growth, Russians have less faith in their government than they had at the beginning of 2016 (when it was, actually, markedly high). However, polls also show that more Russians than ever think that Russia is a developed country. They show that Vladimir Putin remains remarkably popular and trusted. Russians are feeling the economic situation in their pocketbooks, but the great majority does not see their environment as hopeless. Polls also show that only a small percentage of Russians would participate in renewed mass protests. Indeed, for most, the chaos that could come from rapid or radical change seems a far more concerning prospect than consuming less imported food and fewer consumer goods.

Russia looks to remain stable through the next year. Further, for better or worse, Vladimir Putin is almost certain to remain in power after the Russian presidential elections, scheduled for early 2018.

Watching Global Politics from Inside Russia

Many recent events appear to be moving global politics in Russia’s favor. More conservative parties with favorable views of Russia have gained power in many European countries, Japan has been working to warm relations with Russia, and even the US president-elect has been vocal about his intent to improve relations. However, in all of these cases, such efforts will face constraints – divided electorates, opposing power centers within governments, and, in many cases, legal hurdles. In the US, Donald Trump’s cabinet picks, despite his voiced intentions, have appeared to advocate a hard line toward Russia.

Thus, what these changes may mean for Russia is uncertain. How these quite sudden political shifts might affect the economies of these major countries – which in turn could again negatively affect Russia’s economy, is also uncertain.

The most concerning change over the last year has been in the global media. Political discussion, and, in particular, discussion of Russia, has been polarized to such an extent as to make productive public debate on policy almost impossible. In many ways, this is an organic development of a process that began with the Internet age, which decentralized and de-professionalized journalism and allowed the public to increasingly filter the stories they consume from an almost infinite supply. That governments and other power structures have found ways to capitalize on this to pursue their interests should not be surprising, even if it is certainly concerning. What is most concerning is that viable and stable policy cannot be achieved in a democracy where debate and consensus have been made impossible. This is as true in domestic policy as it is in foreign policy.

How this Affects Students in Russia

Professional aspirations seem to have been the biggest change in our student population. Two years ago, perhaps 90% of our students were enthusiastic about any professional opportunity in Russia. Today, as the value of the ruble has sunk, the vast majority of our students are understandably uninterested in general employment opportunities. However, we’ve seen a marked increase in student interest in government work as international spotlights have shifted to diplomacy and security issues.

We have also noted that, as living and travel within Russia has become considerably cheaper for those on dollar budgets, our students have become considerably more adventurous in planning (sometimes fairly extensive) travel within the country and have been more likely to express interest in returning to Russia to study, volunteer, or teach English for a short term.

Anti-Americanism is not a concern. Russians are particularly adept at realizing that the actions and policies of a government do not necessarily reflect the will of all of its citizens. Today, many Russian newscasts carry man-on-the-street quotes from America that seem to indicate general American public support for Russia. Russians approaching Americans are very likely to ask for opinions regarding America, Russia, and recent events. In general, if Americans are willing to discuss issues within the context of expressing their opinion and coming to understand someone else’s, they will find a number of fascinating conversations waiting for them in Russia. Russians, on the whole, are also understanding of someone declining to talk politics.

In conclusion, a lot has changed, but a lot is also very much the same. Russia is still a great destination to open one’s eyes to just how different two separate groups of humans, each with a very different history and culture, can be – and yet still get along at least on a personal level. For this reason, extended time in Russia can be instrumental in expanding horizons and becoming more culturally sensitive. For anyone hoping to go into professions like government, diplomacy, or security or into academic fields like history, literature, or language, spending a least a few months in Russia should be considered mandatory. One can only truly understand that which one has experienced.

About the Author

Josh Wilson

Josh has lived in Moscow since 2003, when he first arrived to study Russian at MGU through SRAS. He holds an M.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in History from Idaho State University, where his masters thesis was written on the political economy of Soviet-era censorship organs affecting the stage. At SRAS, Josh assists in program development and leads our Home and Abroad Programs. He is also the editor-in-chief for the SRAS newsletter, the SRAS Family of Sites, and Vestnik: The Journal of Russian and Asian Studies. In addition, he serves as Communications Director to Alinga Consulting Group and has served as a consultant or translator to several businesses and organizations with interests in Russia.

Primary Sidebar

Also in this Section

Testimonials

At a time in my life when I was at a crossroads regarding where my career might take me, this course showed me a path that truly inspired me, and I haven’t looked back since.

B. DeYoungReed College

The program here is wonderful. All of my teachers have been extremely helpful and I have made friends both here in the dorms and with others who live in the city and find that I often have many opportunities to practice Russian outside of the classroom. The university also has a speaking club which is comprised of both Russian and foreign students solely for the purpose of speaking practice in Russian. Already I feel that my Russian has improved immensely,especially my listening and speaking.

J. WilburnUniversity of South Carolina

Thanks again to (SRAS Assistant Director) Josh Wilson for being so helpful with getting us started! At our concluding discussion class yesterday I asked the students to write and then present five “Kliuchevykh slov” about their experience. Several of them wound up referencing Josh’s comments about trying to observe without judging, which he made during the Moscow Walking Tour. Thanks for helping me teach this course!

Jane CostlowProfessor of Environmental StudiesBates College

A long overdue thank you for the wonderful trip you and your staff planned for the Drew group in St. Petersburg. I have never had a trip where NOTHING went wrong. It was a terrific experience from start to finish, your staff was superb and St. Petersburg Economics University was a marvelous host. We enjoyed each and every lecture and guide, and the many fine added touches. I would love to do this again.

Dr. Carol R. UelandProfessor of RussianDrew University

The SRAS guides were excellent! They really knew their stuff and were able to relate the history of the places we visited in an interesting and inventive way. It was obvious they had a lot of experience working with American students.

Charles Arndt IIIVisiting Assistant ProfessorUnion College

I spent Fall and Spring with your program in St. Petersburg and it was truly the highlight and culmination of my University experience and just a banner year! I can’t thank you enough for or gush enough about your program. I recommend it to just about everyone I talk to, whether or not they’re interested in learning Russian.

B. LewisUniversity of Utah

I wanted to find a program that combined my love of Russia and my passion for environmental studies. Because of my interest in environmental issues, Lake Baikal had always been a site of interest to me. Studying abroad in Siberia gives you the opportunity to see a completely different side of Russia and the Russian people. Just think, few people at home even know that Siberia is anything but a wintery tundra!

I. Korsgard

I’ve studied in Irkutsk and St. Petersburg with SRAS, but [Bishkek] is, by far, my favorite because of the intense focus on speaking skills. I spend about three hours, 4 times a week speaking one-on-one. It’s such a unique opportunity! The people are also especially friendly here. My homestay is fantastic, the coordinator is a never-ending wealth of help, and the food of Central Asia is delicious.

C. HughesThe Evergreen State College

My Dear Renee, I am still in Kazakhstan but can report back we had a perfectly splendid time in Kyrgyzstan. The students and I want to collectively buy a little plot of land and a yurt or house in the village at the base of the mountains. They loved their families and I fell in love with Kenzhe, we want to include her in our documentary. I will be in touch over the next two weeks. Forever grateful to you.

Jane Knox-VoinaProfessor of RussianBowdoin College

Just yesterday my student successfully defended her honors thesis on environmentalism around Lake Baikal, a project that would not have been possible without the fieldwork that she conducted on her SRAS study abroad program in Irkutsk. I hope to see more such projects in the future and will keep directing students to SRAS programs!

Julia ChadagaVisiting Assistant ProfessorMacalester College

Video

Footer

Subscribe to one or both newsletter options by clicking below.

SRAS Family of Sites - This monthly newsletter focuses on material from the SRAS Family of Sites: GeoHistory, PopKult, Folkways, Students Abroad, and Museum Studies Abroad.

Study Abroad Professional - Published 2-3 times yearly, this newsletter focuses on programs, funding, safety, and issues of importance to study abroad professionals and their students.